Target, Best Buy and HRC: A Lesson in Messy Political Affairs

Emotions often flare when it comes to gay rights. And how could they not? You're either for or against equality; there's rarely any middle ground. Those who oppose same-sex lives are driven by fear and loathing; progressive allies, meanwhile, feel the frustrating sting of exclusion and discrimination. It's only natural, then, that LGBT people and their friends would be outraged to hear that Target and Best Buy had both donated money to a PAC, MN Forward, that then funneled their dough to a staunchly conservative gubernatorial candidate, Tom Emmer.

Far too few people have pointed out, however, that both corporations have long-time records of supporting gay employees, and scored perfect scores on the Human Rights Campaign's Corporate Equality Index, and Target supported Twin Cities pride, among other gay-related events. As with Google, which received LGBT kudos this year, yet donates to reliably homophobic candidates, the political web surrounding Target and Best Buy gets sticky and seemingly straight-forward alliances become more ambiguous.

While at Netroots Nation last week, I kept hearing the lament, "We're eating our leaders." That is, people like Dan Choi, for example, are built up, only to be torn down without a moment's notice. The same could be said about companies and entities who align themselves with us.

Despite a few hiccups, such as Best Buy selling music by homophobic artists like Buju Banton, both the electronic super store and Target had a pretty impeccable record when it comes to gay inclusiveness, hence their 100% on HRC's Corporate Equality Index. That score means they don't discriminate based on sexuality or gender identity, offer health benefits to LGBT employees, maintain a diversity council and include trans employees in their insurance bylines. Wonderful, right? Best Buy and Target think so, and each released statements citing their gay-friendliness, including the HRC Index's celebratory ranking.

According to both Best Buy and Target, their contributions, routed through MN Forward, concerns the economics of Emmer's candidacy, not his overall political umbrella. "Best Buy’s political giving strategy – and its decision to support MN Forward –  is based solely on the need to help elect candidates who will make jobs and economic issues a top priority this election," wrote the company. "The reality is candidates across the political spectrum have a lot of different positions on a lot of different issues – and Best Buy may not necessarily agree with all those positions."

Companies have to look out for their employees, as well as their bottom line. Would it be fair to boycott Google because their PAC gave $5,000 to Sen. Jim DeMint, who described gay marriage as "destructive" to civilization? Should Target and Best Buy, who indirectly donated $150,000 and $100,000 to Emmer, respectively, be held to the same standards? Or should Target receive more flack, since their CEO, Gregg Steinhafel, handed Michele Bachmann's reelection campaign a check for $5,000? Clearly we need to scrutinize how gay people and organizations should rate our allies, and that includes Human Right Campaign.

HRC's Michael Cole told The Awl journalist Abe Sauer that a company's campaign contributions represent a "different beast" than its treatment of employees, and therefore doesn't factor into the organization's overall assessment of a company's commitment to equality. Sauer points out, however, that the HRC Index does indeed include political preference:

Yet, the last category taken into account on each company's index is "Responsible Citizenship" where corporations can lose overall points for failing to be a "good corporate citizen." HRC defines this category as "Employer exhibits responsible behavior toward the LGBT community; does not engage in action that would undermine LGBT equality. Employers found engaging in activities that would undermine LGBT equality will have 15 points removed from their scores."

The problem with which we're faced, then, is twofold: we need to hold our own groups accountable, and we have to make clear to companies like Target and Best Buy that their economic interests cannot supersede social and political progress. HRC released a statement late Friday in which they tell Target and Best Buy "The very least you can do to begin rebuilding your image among fair-minded consumers is to make equivalent donations to groups that support candidates who will put all Minnesota families first and fulfill the promises of our highest ideals."

Rather than asking MN Forward to return their contributions, these companies are being asked to toss more money into the political ring, and make sure that this time it's pink. Is that a satisfactory solution?  A donation to one of Emmer's rivals, after all, would simply level the financial playing field, rather than take a stand against his discriminatory policies. If Target and Best Buy want to prove their commitment to LGBT employees and consumers, they should demand MN Forward turn over their sizable endowments.

There's no easy way to untangle the political knots that arise when business and social interests clash on the electoral stage. The Target and Best Buy dust-up, however, should teach gay groups, as well as consumers, that we need to take a very close look at a company or candidate's election-related finances before celebrating apparent allies, because there may very well be a few unsavory skeletons in their closet.

Photo credit: thanker212's Flickr